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How we work with consultants

All our Consultants are independent practitioners and have personal responsibility for the care they deliver. Whilst they are not Spire employees, they are required to operate according to Spire policies and procedures when practising at Spire hospitals. Many Consultants are employed by the NHS, and may also work across a number of other independent providers.

Every Consultant is listed on the General Medical Council (GMC) medical register and undergoes a thorough vetting process before being granted “practising privileges” to practice at a Spire hospital. They are subject to regular review by their Spire Hospital Director.

Your relationship with each Consultant involved in your treatment (including anaesthetists) exists as a separate legal relationship alongside your relationship with Spire. If you are a private patient, you or your insurer will usually be invoiced separately by each Consultant involved in your treatment, and by the hospital, although in some instances we may be able to act as a fee collecting agent for the Consultants to make the payment process easier.

Whilst Consultants are responsible for clinical decision-making and the quality of the care they deliver, Spire is responsible for ensuring that there are systems of monitoring and oversight in place, designed to ensure that Consultants practise in accordance with Spire policy, and in line with their practising privileges. All Consultants are required to maintain adequate minimum levels of medical malpractice indemnity cover, in keeping with GMC guidance, and Spire undertakes checks to ensure that indemnity certificates are in place.